Anthony Bourdain uncovers a different kind of Greek island in Naxos

(CNN) — Some shows start out with a simple premise -- or a nebulous one.

This one, set on the Greek island of Naxos, was the first one filmed for this season (episodes are frequently shown out of sequence).

The idea going in was quite simple: I go to a really nice, laid-back Greek island -- one with an actual local culture, businesses and income streams outside of tourism -- and slide gently into another year of making television whilst maintaining my suntan from summer vacation.

I will admit to have done little homework and having had few expectations. I knew that Greece as a nation was going through an awful, crippling financial crisis. I had asked for a villa where I might putter about and do some cooking as a base of operations.

What would it be like, removed from the mainland? Naxos, I knew, (and had insisted ) was very different from Mykonos.

It was not a party island. It was a blank slate. So the narrow slices of life depicted in this episode are me learning right there along with you.

There's a lot of delicious food. The place is, as one would expect, gorgeous. But there are surprises -- and indicators both hopeful and ominous.